Tuesday of Week 18 – Num 12:1-13; Matthew 14:22-36

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence (Ps 51:3).

The Book of Psalms. How much there is in it of the everyday experience of imperfect people who strive for ideals, and struggle for the formation of their lives. But in everyday life – then and today – good mixes with evil, truth with falsehood, justice with injustice – duplicity and hypocrisy seem to triumph.

In a humble person, who knows the truth about themselves, comes a prayer, which is a great cry for mercy. For the humble person recognises that they are in no state, without God’s help, to wipe away their sins. So, they ask for God to look upon their misery and weakness, their inadequate efforts to make the most of grace, their short-termism and impatience, and the lack of willingness to make any effort to change old habits.

In the end, it’s of value to address a prayer to the God of Mercy and All Consolation with a verse from Psalm 51, which like an arrow flies to the heart of God (and can be repeated many times during the day):

A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
(v.12)